The Outing

The Outing was a totally new concept in 2013 created by the new gay matchmaker Eddie McGuinness; an addition to the popular and long-running Traditional Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival which has been around for more than 170 years. The Outing Festival has become the off-shoot of the traditional matchmaking festival and has its stand-alone weekend. In 2019 after 7 years The Festival moves to a new location at The Inn at Dromoland. Weekend 27th & 28th September 2019.

In 2019, The Outing LGBT+ Music & Matchmaking Festival will come to life for the 7th year bigger, better, and with more entertainment. This is the LGBT+ music festival to be at since we take over the new hotels on the grounds of Dromoland Castle, bars, and venues for the weekend 27th & 28th September 2019.

Everyone is welcome! The festival calls singles, couples and groups of friends – straight or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and their friends – to The Outing Festival LGBT+ Matchmaking & Music Festival for this fun-filled weekend. There’s no restriction (other than being over 18 years of age) on this inclusive and entertaining twist on an old tradition. And of course, there is matchmaking, blind dates, and speed dating aspects for singles too. We’ve put together a line-up of acts and entertainment that this festival in the East of Co. Clare, Ireland you won’t soon forget and we’d be delighted to share them with you and your friends, whoever you are!

In 2019 we’re giving you an even bigger weekend of jam-packed entertainment full of traditional activities with a twist. We really are making this weekend available to everyone and we are sure that our fantastic line up will leave everyone smiling, just like the last 7 years.

Over the weekend festival, we have several live acts including comedy evenings, theatre shows, and live Céile. Coming back for an even bigger show will be some of the Artist in 2018 watch this space.

A weekend like this wouldn’t be complete without a night full of clubbing! And these aren’t just any club nights! We’re bringing you a selection of Ireland’s and Europe’s best gay clubs and taking them on tour with us. Expect the unexpected, and not just in one but four venues and clubs. On these nights, there will be a battle between several DJs, sexy stage dancers, and fire eaters. Entertainment for one and all!

To let you brush over your hangover, we’ve teamed up with local tourist companies, restaurants, and shops to offer you the best discounts on some of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions and activities. From visits and picnics to outdoor activities with Wet & Wild Sports Club all the way through to rock climbing, we’ve got you covered. Check out our full list of attractions/activities here. (https://www.theouting.ie/local-activities/)

Make sure you bring your best dresses (boys too) as we will be holding blind dates, speed dating, ice breakers, tea dances, céilí dances and who knows, we might even teach you how to gay square dance! Oh, and did we mention that the whole weekend is hosted by our very own Gay Matchmaker Eddie McGuinness? He’s expected to rustle up some trouble! If that doesn’t make it the best matchmaking and music festival on the planet, we don’t know what does!

Safe Sex at The Outing

The Outing LGBT+ Music &Matchmaking Festival is committed to education about safer sex practices and has worked with GOSHH plus the Gay Health Network (www.ghn.ie) and Man2Man, who offer HIV and sexual health information to gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men. Find them on Facebook here or follow them on Twitter at @GOSHH @Man2ManIreland also visit www.Man2Man.ie & www.GOSHH.ie

The Outing LGBT+ Music &Matchmaking Festival 2019 will have lots of safer sex packs in all areas of the hotel, venues, and events throughout this year’s festival. If you’d like a free pack just ask at The Outing Festival desk in The Inn at Dromoland Hotel.

The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of Pacing

Lots of things affect the pace at which we drink, like our drinking culture and the extent to which we buy in ‘rounds’, the people we are drinking with, whether we are drinking when eating, our mood and various other factors.

We have all probably heard of ‘binge’ drinking, but what is a binge?

The World Health Organisation has defined binge drinking as drinking six or more standard drinks (about 3 pints of beer) during one drinking occasion. However some researchers have argued against this definition. As this level of consumption could occur over the course of an evening of eating and socialising they argue it is inappropriate to equate it with a binge.

Whatever the definition, new research suggests that drinking to drunkenness and repeatedly subjecting the brain to the effects of withdrawal from the presence of large doses of alcohol i.e. having what people would term drinking ‘binges’, could damage brain cells even more than continuous drinking.

Find out more info here www.drinkaware.ie

Design And Photography Credits

We would like to thank the following who have contributed their fantastic design, photography and printing skills to our website and promotional materials:

EMcG PR & Events Team for all Public Relations, Event management, and web content. www.emcgpr.com

Sponsorship

The Outing Festival team want to thank all of our partners for being so generous and for helping us make The Outing Festival a success for over 7 years. Our current partners are listed through out the site. If you would like to get involved with The Outing Festival we would love to hear from you! Please email [email protected] for more information.

To request a sponsorship pack please email us with the subject title “Request for Sponsorship Pack” and we will send one on to you in no time. Come Share the Love.